Retainer ring removing tool



June 15, 1965 PERRlN 3,188,728

RETAINER RING REMOVING TOOL Filed March 18, 1963 FIG. 3 FIG. 4

J 1! A /e 1 //3 L/P Q 4 I7 20 2/ 22 L W I 3 2/ 22,

l8 6 INVENTOR Joe E Perrin BY W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,188,728 RETAINER RING REMOVING TOQL .Ioe F. Perrin, 219 E. 3rd St., Taylor, Tex. Filed Mar. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 265,835 6 Claims. (Cl. 29-229) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tools for removing rings of the snap or split type from shafts and other cylindrical members.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved tool for removing rings of the snap or split type from the grooves of shafts or other cylindrical members upon which the rings are confined.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tool which simplifies the removal of retainer and similar rings from shafts without damaging the shafts in any manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tool, of the character described, which is so constructed that the ring to be removed is spread apart for disengagement from its shaft and permitted to contract after disengagement whereby said ring is reuseable in most instances.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved tool, of the character described, wherein the ring is disengaged from its shaft by pivotal movement so as to utilize the curvature of the shaft to assist in spreading said ring.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a ring removing tool constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the tool,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the tool engaged over a shaft having a ring confined thereon in a groove,

FIG. 4 is a.view, similar to FIG. 3, of a portion of the tool and showing initial disengagement of the ring from its groove,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views, similar to FIG. 4, showing the removal of the ring from the shaft, and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the shaft with its ring in elevation.

In the drawing, the numeral 10 designates the tubular body or housing of a tool for removing lock or retainer and similar rings from shafts and other cylindrical members and particularly from the rotor shafts of starters for internal combustion engines. A typical shaft 11 is shown in FIGS. 3-7 and has a lock or retainer ring 12 confined thereon in an annular shallow groove 13 so as to project radially therefrom. The ring 12 is of the split or snap type and may be resilient or non-resilient. Preferably, the body 10 is cylindrical and its coextensive, axial bore 14 is also cylindrical and of greater diameter than the shaft-mounted ring for receiving a complementary cam member or sleeve 15. A counterbore or enlarged portion 16, of a length preferably greater than the diameter of the ring 12, is formed at one end of the bore 14 of the body. The sleeve 15 is of less length than the body and terminates short of the outer end of the counterbore 16 to permit positioning of the ring within said counterbore when the tool is threaded on or telescoped over the shaft 11 with said sleeve engaging said ring (FIG. 3). An axial, cylindrical bore 17 extends throughout the sleeve and is of slightly greater diameter than the shaft whereby said sleeve has a relatively snug fit on said shaft for engagement with its ring 12. The sleeve 15 is held against displacement by a set screw 18 which extends through the wall of the body 10.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, a transverse or radial, bevelled cam face 19 is formed on the end of the sleeve within the counterbore 16 of the body and is substantially U-shaped due to the undercutting. or recessing of an appreciable portion of said sleeve opposite the median of the cam face as shown at 20. Although preferably arcuate, the cam face 19 may be rectilinear so long as its inclination or curvature is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 15. The recess 20 is of sufficient length to extend a short distance inwardly of the counterbore into the bore 14 of the body and of a depth greater than the radial thickness of the ring. A channel or groove 21 extends longitudinally inward from the median of the recess to receive the flat inner end portion of an elongate, resilient element or spring 22 which is confined against displacement by engagement by the set screw 18. The outer or opposite end portion 23 of the spring 22 is offset radially inward of the sleeve 15 a distance at least equal to the thickness of said sleeve for engagement with the shaft 11. In order to facilitate passage of the ring 12 into the recess 20, the spring has its outer extremity 24 directed radially outward.

In use, the tool is threaded on the shaft 11 and the median of the cam face 19 is engaged with the gap or split of the ring 12 whereby the outer extremity 24 of the spring 22 bears against the portion of said ring diametrically opposed to its split (FIG. 3). Upon forcing the tool toward the ring, the median of the cam face causes spreading of said ring and disengagement of its portions adjacent its gap from the groove 13 of the shaft due to the confinement of the opposite portion of said ring by the spring. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4, the spring 22 flexes outwardly radially to permit its outer extremity to ride over the ring 12 and the medial portion of said ring to enter the recess 20 of the sleeve 15 (FIG. 5). Thus, the ring pivots about its medial portion and continues to spread apart around the shaft upon continued inward movement of the tool due to the bevel of the cam face. Finally, the ring 12 clears the shaft 11 and the medial portion of said ring moves out of the groove of said shaft into the recess of the sleeve (FIG. 6). The spring confines the medial portion of the ring in the sleeve recess 20 and permits removal of said ring with the tool upon pulling of said tool from the shaft. It is pointed out that the primary function of the counterbore 16 is to confine the ring 12 against undue spreading and possible disengagement from the recess 20, particularly when said ring is nonresilient, as well as to permit outward radial flexing of the spring 22.

Although of relatively simple construction, the ring removing tool is highly efiicient and its use requires minimum skill. It is noted that, by varying the diameter of the bore 17 of the cam sleeve 15, the tool is capable of being used on shafts of different diameters; however, it is not necessary for the sleeve to exactly fit the shaft so long as its cam face has sufiicient engagement with the ring of said shaft to spread said ring. Manifestly, the tool facilitates the removal of rings of the snap or split type with minimum effort and expenditure of time and without damaging the shaft in any manner. Also, in most instances, the removed ring may be reused since it is merely spread apart and is permitted to contract after disengagement from the shaft. An important feature of the invention resides in the utilization of the curvature of the shaft to assist in spreading and disengaging the ring from said shaft due to the pivotal removal of said ring. Except for economy of manufacture, the body 10 and sleeve 15 could be made integral q and the spring 22 rigidly attached thereto. Accordingly,

the sleeve should be considered as a part ofthe body 1 I and will be so claimed.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatorythere'of and various:;changes in thev size, shape and.

materials, as well" as in the details ofthe illustrated construction may be made, Withirrthe scope of the appended.

claims, without departing fromv the spirit 'of' the. in vention. 1 a

What'I claim and desire'to secure by Letters Patent is the body and inclined relative tothel'ongitudinal axis .of

means within saidbore of said body in opposed spaced relation to the cam face for engagement with the member and for bearing against the ring when said cam face engages'the ring whereby the resilient means flexes out- I wardly'to confine a portion of the ring so as to permit 'pivoting and spreading, ofthe ring bysaid cam face to disingage the ringfrom the groove of the member, said bore of'said body being enlarged to accommodate outward flexingof said'resilie'nt means- 4. 'A tool as set forth in claim 3 wherein the cam face terminates short of the resilient means to; providela recess therebetween'for receivingand confining'aiportionof the disengaged ring.

saidbore for engagementwith the ring, and an elongate," resilient element extending longitudinally outward of.

said oneend or said bore of: said body inopposed spaced relationtothe cam: faceand 'terminati ng in an outer ex tremity facing in the 'same direction as said cam face for'bearing against the ring when said cam face engages the ring, the resilient element having an outer end portion adjacentits outer extremity and contiguous said bore for-engaging the member and'for movement into overlying frictional engagement with the ringi to confine a portion only of the ring against displacement from the groove of the member when the'outer extremity of said element rides over the ring upon continued telescoping of said body; over the member and thereby cause pivoting spreading of thering by the inclination of said'carn; face in co-action with the curvature of the memberto: disengagethering from the. groove of the memberi p V 2. A tool asset forth-in claim1 wherein the elongate resilient element has a portion" between its outer end portion and said one end 'of the bore of the body spaced fromsaid bore to provide aref cess between said element. and the cam face for receiving; and confining a "portion only ofthe'disengaged i'ing -to permit removal thereofwith the-tool from theniember.-

3. A tool for'rem'oving a'splitring from the annul'a'r groove (Sf- 1a cylindrical} member ineluding a body having:

a bore of greater diameter than the-cylindrical'member and-of'less'diameterthan the split ringfor telescoping over the member, a carn face within an'dat' oneehd of: the bore of the body and inclin'edrelati'v'e-t-o the longitudinal axis of said 'bore' for engagement with 'the'ring'; and: resilient 5.. A'tool as set'forth inclaim fi'afwherein, the resilient means is1in.='the form of anelongate; element. extending longitudinally. ofithebore. of the body. and having an inwardly offset portion in the enlarged portionfof said bore for engaging the' 'cylindrical memberxand'for bearing against and confining a portion of the split ring:

6. A tool for removing a split ring from the annular groove of a'cylindrical'member including a housing, a sleeve confined'fin-th'e' housingand'having a'bore of greater diameter-thanthecylindrical member and of less diameter.

I resilient means. i

, 2 than the split ring for' telescoping-.overithemember, a cam facewithin said'housin'g andl at one endof thebore of the sleeve' an'd inclined relative to the longitudinal axis ofsaid bore for engagement with the ring, and resilient means within; said housing in opposed spaced relation to; the cam 7 face for 'enga-getner'it with{the member and forhearing against the ring] when said cam face engages the ring whereby tlie resilient-means flexe'soutwardly'to' confine a portion of the ring so as to permit pivoting; and spreadingof the'ri'ng by saidcamfa'ceto disengage' the ring from the groove I of the member, said housing having-an enlarged internal portion to accommodate outward-flexingof said References Gitedby'the Examiner-1."

IUNITEDI'STATES PATENTS 1,258,016, ,3/18. Kepner 29l+278X 2,422,549 6/47 Hogin 29-235; 2,474,222 6/49 Carrier; 29-229 2,532,141 11/50 Barkan et al-. ;..,.29.2-29 3,052,970 9/62; Peri-in 29229 WILLIAM EELDMAN; Primary. Examiner. MILTONS. MEHR, Examir"zer 

1. A TOOL FOR REMOVING A SPLIT RING FROM THE ANNULAR GROOVE OF A CYLINDRICAL MEMBER INCLUDING A BODY HAVING A BORE OF GREATER DIAMETER THAN THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER AND OF LESS DIAMETER THAN THE SPLIT RING FOR TELESCOPING OVER THE MEMBER, A CAM FACE AT ONE END OF THE BORE OF THE BODY AND INCLINED RELATIVE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BORE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RING, AND AN ELONGATE RESILIENT ELEMENT EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OUTWARD OF SAID ONE OF SAID BORE OF SAID BODY IN OPPOSED SPACED RELATION TO THE CAM FACE AND TERMINATING IN AN OUTER EXTREMITY FACING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID CAM FACE FOR BEARING AGAINST THE RING WHEN SAID CAM FACE ENGAGES THE RING, THE RESILIENT ELEMENT HAVING AN OUTER END PORTION ADJACENT ITS OUTER EXTREMITY AND CONTIGUOUS SAID BORE FOR ENGAGING THE MEMBER AND FOR MOVEMENT INTO OVERLYING FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RING TO CONFINE A PORTION ONLY OF THE RING AGAINST DISPLACEMENT FROM THE GROOVE OF THE MEMBER WHEN THE OUTER EXTREMITY OF SAID ELEMENT RIDES OVER THE RING UPON CONTINUED TELESCOPING OF SAID BODY OVER THE MEMBER AND THEREBY CAUSE PIVOTING AND SPREADING OF THE RING OF THE INCLINATION OF SAID CAM FACE IN CO-ACTION WITH THE CURVATURE OF THE MEMBER TO DISENGAGE THE RING FROM THE GROOVE OF THE MEMBER. 